preventive

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Intended to stop something bad, especially illness, from happening.

   Regular checkups are an important form of preventive medicine.

2. 2
   noun

   Something that helps stop an illness or problem from happening.

   Washing your hands is a simple preventive against infection.

Borrowed from New Latin praeventīvus. Equivalent to prevent + -ive.

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